Hydrangea plant named ‘LC NO11’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘LC NO11’, characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and uniform plant habit; freely branching habit with strong lateral branches; early and freely flowering habit with plants remaining in flower for a long period time; dense and hardy inflorescences with large and durable white-colored sterile flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘LC NO11’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Hydrangea Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Alex Frederick Schoemaker

Provisional application Ser. No. 62/973,658

Filed: Oct. 17, 2019

Inventor/Applicant hereby claim the benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

Title: Hydrangea Plant Named ‘LC NO10’

Inventor/Applicant: Alex Frederick Schoemaker

Disclosed in U.S. Plant patent Ser. No. 16/974,067

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Inventor/Assignee, Mr. Alex Frederick Schoemaker of Boskoop, The Netherlands on Oct. 19, 2018, application number 2018/2639. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea paniculata, commercially referred to as a Hardy or Panicled Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘LC NO11’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Hydrangea plants with uniform plant habit and attractive inflorescences.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2013 in Boskoop, The Netherlands, of Hydrangea paniculata ‘Silver Dollar’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanille Fraise’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands in July, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since August, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘LC NO11’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘LC NO11’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and uniform plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit with strong lateral branches.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit with plants remaining in         flower for a long period time.     -   4. Dense and hardy inflorescences with large and durable         white-colored sterile flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Silver Dollar’. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Silver Dollar’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than plants of         ‘Silver Dollar’.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are distally         more rounded than and not as pointed as inflorescences of plants         of ‘Silver Dollar’.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are more dense         than inflorescences of plants of ‘Silver Dollar’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Vanille Fraise’. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Vanille Fraise’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than plants of         ‘Vanille Fraise’.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are distally         more rounded than and not as pointed as inflorescences of plants         of ‘Vanille Fraise’.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are more dense         than inflorescences of plants of ‘Vanille Fraise’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea paniculata ‘LC NO10’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/974,067. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘LC NO10’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are larger than and not as broad         as plants of ‘LC NO10’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more vigorous and grow faster         than plants of ‘LC NO10’.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea have more         sterile and fertile flowers than inflorescences of plants of ‘LC         NO10’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can also be compared to plants of the Hydrangea paniculata ‘Sundae Fraise’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Sundae Fraise’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are taller than plants of ‘Sundae         Fraise’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more upright than and not as         outwardly spreading as plants of ‘Sundae Fraise’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘LC NO11’ grown in a container.

The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of typical leaves (top of sheet) and typical inflorescences (bottom of sheet) of ‘LC NO11’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the late summer in 21-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Boskoop, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 16° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from about 12° C. to 22° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were pinched one time and were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. As a Hardy or Panicled Hydrangea, plants of the new Hydrangea are typically not treated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea paniculata ‘LC NO11’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hydrangea paniculata ‘Silver             Dollar’, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Hydrangea paniculata Fraise', not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 16° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 120 days             at temperatures about 16° C. to 30° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent             on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to somewhat outwardly             spreading and uniform plant habit; overall plant shape,             upright narrow inverted triangular; strong and sturdy stems;             vigorous growth habit and moderate to high growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 79.6 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 58 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—About 14 lateral branches develop per             plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development.         -   Length.—About 49.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 5.6 cm.         -   Texture.—When developing, moderately pubescent; fully             developed, woody.         -   Aspect.—Upright to about 15° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Color.—When developing: Upper surface, close to 199D; lower             surface, close to 145B. Developed: Upper surface, close to             185D; lower surface, close to 187C; proximally, close to             200D; when woody, close to 199C and N199A.         -   Lenticels.—Density: Sparse; none observed on developing             stems. Size, developed stems: About 1.5 mm by 0.75 mm.             Color, developed stems: Close to 165C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of three, simple.         -   Length.—About 8.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 5.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Short apiculate.         -   Base.—Rounded to short attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate; coarsely undulate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Mostly sparsely pubescent; densely             pubescent along midvein and lateral venation; slightly             rough.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between             143A and 144A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             146C. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close to             between 138A and 143A; venation, close to 151A. Fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to between 144A and             146B; venation, close to 193A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Sparsely pubescent;             matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 152D; towards the             edges, close to 174B. Color, lower surface: Close to 145C to             145D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and smaller             inconspicuous fertile flowers arranged on terminal panicles;             panicles dense and broadly conical in shape; sterile flowers             face upright to outwardly and slightly drooping depending on             their position in the inflorescence; fertile flowers face             mostly upright.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering begins in the midsummer             and is continuous until late summer in Northern Europe.         -   Flower longevity.—Sterile flowers last about six weeks on             the plant, sterile flowers persistent; fertile flowers last             about five days on the plant, fertile flowers not             persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 800             sterile flowers and about 225 fertile flowers per panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 21.1 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 15.7 cm.         -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About             1.2 cm. Shape: Broadly cup-shaped. Color: Close to 150D.         -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Color: Close to 145D;             immature calyx, close to 145C to 145D.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 6 mm.         -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 5 mm.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four or             occasionally five arranged in a single whorl. Length: About             2.5 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex:             Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155A.             Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155C;             color does not change with development.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five             arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About             1.75 mm. Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; color does not             change with development. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to NN155B; color does not change with             development.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically             four or occasionally five arranged in a single whorl.             Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Broadly             elliptic to obovate and ovate, slightly concave. Apex:             Shallowly emarginate to obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Close to between 155C and 157D. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 155C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to between             155C and 157A; with subsequent development (at the end of             the summer and beginning of autumn), color becoming closer             to between 61D and 62B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 157A; with subsequent development (at the end of the             summer and beginning of autumn), color becoming closer to             65D and towards the margins and apex, close to 62C.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm.             Shape: Broadly deltoid. Apex: Broadly acuminate. Base:             Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 145D. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 145C to 145D. Fully opened, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 150D; color does not change with             development.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 37.5°             from branch axis. Texture and luster: Moderately to densely             pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 157D.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 2.5 mm. Diameter:             About 0.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 20°             from vertical. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte.             Color: Close to 157C.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About eight. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament             color: Close to NN155D. Anther length: About 0.6 mm. Anther             shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 155D. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 161D. Pistils: To             date, pistil development has not been observed on sterile             flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About ten. Filament length: About 3.5 mm. Filament             color: Close to NN155B. Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther             shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 155D. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 161D. Pistils: Pistil             quantity per flower: Typically three or occasionally two.             Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma             color: Close to 157D. Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style             color: Close to 157D. Ovary color: Close to 150D.         -   Seeds.—To date, seed production has not been observed on             plants of the new Hydrangea. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, under commercial production     conditions, plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be     resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants. -   Garden performance:

Plants of the new Hydrangea have been observed have good garden performance and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘LC NO11’ as illustrated and described. 